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Thursday, April 19, 2012

1943 Naval Air Map of Hampton Roads

In our collection is this 1943 U.S Navy map, showing an aviator the location of every Naval Air and Army Air Corps base and auxillary landing field within the Navy's Fifth Naval District. It also shows aviators the location of patrol zones, bombing ranges, off-limits areas, and shore installations such as Fort Monore, the Naval Operating Base, and the Mine Depot. There are thirteen airfields in all. A few of the airfields are still used today, notably NAS Oceana, NAS Norfolk (as part of Naval Station Norfolk), and Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress.

The Navy managed its shore installations for much of the 20th century through a system of regional districts. Fifth Naval District covered southeastern Virginia, Cape Hatteras, and northeastern North Carolina. It was one of the busiest districts in the Department of the Navy. Today the command is called Commander, Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic.